¹⁸ When the Arameans^[a] came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people, please, with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked.^(A)

¹¹ And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he fumbled about for someone to lead him by the hand.^(A)

¹¹ And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they were unable to find the door.^(A)

⁷ What then? Israel has not achieved what it was pursuing. The elect have achieved it, but the rest were hardened,^(A)